More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

(CBSO)Founded in 1920, with its first symphony concert conducted by Elgar. It benefited from an early spell with Adrian Boult as conductor (1924–30). In recent years it has achieved international status under Simon Rattle (b. 1955) and in 1991 it acquired the added boost of Birmingham's new custom-built *Symphony Hall.